Sen. Tom Cotton

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally honors the life, service, and legacy of Jon Llewellyn Kyl, a former U.S. Senator from Arizona who passed away at age 84. It details his career highlights, including his time in the House of Representatives, his long tenure in the Senate, and his work on issues such as water policy, national security, and crime victims' rights. The bill directs the Secretary of the Senate to share this tribute with the House of Representatives and Kyl's family, while also ordering the Senate to adjourn for the day as a mark of respect.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates the week of September 27 through October 3, 2026, as "Religious Education Week" to recognize the role of religious instruction in civic and moral development. The bill highlights historical perspectives and legal precedents that support the right to religious education, including the use of sectarian schools and released time programs for public school students. It calls on all states, territories, and the District of Columbia to accommodate individuals who wish to leave public school attendance to attend religious classes.

Maddy summaryThe Small Business Audit Correction Act of 2026 amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to exempt certain small, privately held securities firms from mandatory audits by registered public accounting firms under Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) oversight. The bill defines these eligible firms as "non-carrying" brokers or dealers that do not hold customer funds or securities and have no more than 150 registered representatives. To qualify for this exemption, a firm must also be in good standing, which requires maintaining specific financial capital ratios, having no recent regulatory orders or felony convictions, and remaining free from suspensions by industry associations. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB are directed to update their regulations within 180 days of enactment to implement these changes, allowing qualifying firms to satisfy audit obligations through standard generally accepted auditing standards rather than PCAOB-specific requirements.

Maddy summaryThe Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 restricts the importation, sale, and use of connected vehicles and related technology from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to protect national security. Starting in 2027, the bill generally bans these vehicles if they originate from or are controlled by these countries, with separate restrictions on software and hardware taking effect in 2030. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to issue specific exemptions for items that do not pose a security risk and must publish a list of approved products. The law also requires companies to submit declarations confirming their vehicles comply with the rules and imposes heavy fines for violations.

Maddy summaryThe Arkansas Delta National Heritage Area Act establishes a new national heritage area in 17 counties across southern Arkansas, adding it to the existing National Heritage Area System. The bill designates Arkansas State University Heritage Sites as the local coordinating entity responsible for managing the site and requires them to submit a management plan to the Secretary of the Interior within three years of enactment. Federal assistance for this specific heritage area is set to expire 15 years after the law is signed, aligning with standard provisions for similar designations.

Maddy summaryThe FEAT Act allows individuals involved in specific Department of Interior administrative proceedings to move their cases to a federal district court instead of having them heard solely by internal agency tribunals. This change applies to parties who either seek approval for certain conduct or are appealing sanctions and penalties imposed by the Department. Under the new rules, these parties must file for removal within 60 days of starting the action, and the federal court will review the case from scratch rather than relying on the agency's initial decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the America's Living Library Project, a pilot program within the Department of the Interior to collect and analyze genomic data from species found in National Park System units. The program will create a publicly available genomic database while protecting sensitive location information and requires coordination with multiple federal agencies including the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and Department of Agriculture. It authorizes funding through fiscal year 2031 to support genome sequencing, sample storage, and data management, with initial implementation at five selected parks and potential expansion to twenty additional units within two years. The bill also mandates tribal consultation, establishes cybersecurity safeguards for genomic data, and includes provisions for long-term sample storage in U.S. facilities only.

Maddy summaryThe LIT Act of 2025 repeals three existing Department of Energy energy efficiency rules for general service lamps (common incandescent light bulbs). It directly affects manufacturers and retailers of traditional incandescent bulbs by removing regulatory requirements they previously had to meet. Key mechanisms include amending the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to eliminate specific references to incandescent standards and formally terminating three finalized rules (from 2022 and 2024) that established minimum efficiency levels. This bill makes no new efficiency requirements for these bulbs but removes the existing ones.